MIAspotter From Spain, joined Nov 2001, 2078 posts, RR: 26 Posted (3 months 2 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 2426 times:
Hey everyone.
Don´t know if it´s the right place to ask but here I go.
For a while now, I have been wondering if its a good idea to start a small business selling scale model planes, at first I could start with an ebay online store (of which there are many) and then probably if the idea is good, maybe set a little stall in a mall or somewhere.
I currently live in Barcelona and there are only 2 shops that I know that sells model planes, one only sells Herpa models and the other sells different models but in a limited range, but on the other hand has a wide selection of books, and other paraphernalia, plus a 737 simulator!
My question is...
How viable is this business idea? does it yield a decent turnover? I know most of the people into this hobby know where to look for cheaper / hard to find models.
As for the suppliers, well I could contact them and ask about ordering, I have no idea how many or how do you order a batch of planes from this suppliers.
flymia From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 5667 posts, RR: 6 Reply 1, posted (3 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 2402 times:
Quoting MIAspotter (Thread starter): I currently live in Barcelona and there are only 2 shops that I know that sells model planes, one only sells Herpa models and the other sells different models but in a limited range, but on the other hand has a wide selection of books, and other paraphernalia, plus a 737 simulator!
Wish I would have known about the 2nd one! There was a hobby store near plaza Catalunya which sold some airplane models also but they focused more with Cars and Trains.
I think you have the right idea with the e-bay store to start out with. IMO if I was looking at doing this I would not make any big orders, but buy a few at lower prices if you can find them and see how the e-bay store works out for the first few months. See if you get a decent amount of buyers. I feel for e-bay the more rare the model the more you will sell. Of course the problem is finding rare models cheap enough where you can sell them and make money.
"It was just four of us on the flight deck, trying to do our job" (Captain Al Haynes)
MIAspotter From Spain, joined Nov 2001, 2078 posts, RR: 26 Reply 2, posted (3 months 2 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 2369 times:
Quoting flymia (Reply 1): Wish I would have known about the 2nd one! There was a hobby store near plaza Catalunya which sold some airplane models also but they focused more with Cars and Trains.
Yup, that´s Palau they sell only Herpa´s
The other one is ¨Aeroteca¨ and it´s located in the Gracia neighbourhood, they have a full mockup 737G cockpit in the basement.
Quoting flymia (Reply 1): I think you have the right idea with the e-bay store to start out with. IMO if I was looking at doing this I would not make any big orders, but buy a few at lower prices if you can find them and see how the e-bay store works out for the first few months. See if you get a decent amount of buyers. I feel for e-bay the more rare the model the more you will sell. Of course the problem is finding rare models cheap enough where you can sell them and make money.
Yeah, I was thinking on buying some of the models at Palau, they stock up some rare herpas and military ones and re-sell them on ebay, also when i was in HKG I visited this tiny shop that was chock-a-block full of models, they have some really really really rare models that you will NEVER find in Europe and maybe America, prices are not bad so I could get a few from them and resell.
Thanks for the feedback
I deduct from your username that you live in MIA? I used to live there a few years ago, is the AirplaneShop still around?
flymia From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 5667 posts, RR: 6 Reply 3, posted (3 months 2 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 2344 times:
Quoting MIAspotter (Reply 2): I deduct from your username that you live in MIA? I used to live there a few years ago, is the AirplaneShop still around?
Yep, im living in MIA. Was in Barcelona for 5 months two years ago studying there, lived across the street from Hospital de Sant Pau, can't wait to get some free time and head back there.
Yep the airplane shop is still around at least the last time I went. Another place I need to head over too. Have not been there for a while but pretty sure its still open.
Quoting MIAspotter (Reply 2): Yeah, I was thinking on buying some of the models at Palau, they stock up some rare herpas and military ones and re-sell them on ebay
I remember some rare stuff, I think thats a decent game plan. I know when I go online to browse on e-bay its the rare ones I am looking for.
"It was just four of us on the flight deck, trying to do our job" (Captain Al Haynes)
fx1816 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 1356 posts, RR: 5 Reply 4, posted (3 months 1 week 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 2304 times:
Quoting flymia (Reply 3): Yep the airplane shop is still around at least the last time I went. Another place I need to head over too. Have not been there for a while but pretty sure its still open.
Yup, the airplane shop is still there. I was there last April and I love it. Living in California though I go to the airplane shop in Las Vegas often.
JeffinMass From United States of America, joined Dec 2011, 7 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (3 months 1 week 6 hours ago) and read 2151 times:
Hello ,
I want to say that with ANY start up business you have to "wow" your new and future customers . Example . Choose one
current popular diecast . 1/200 is more saleable now than 1/400 . Do a Google search , Ebay search and search all the stores worldwide and compare the prices . Can you sell that item at any of those prices ? I am looking for some older
models and I have to keep searching and searching and eventually I may find them . The Internet is where you are going to get most of your business . The costs have risen especially postal costs . You have to deal with shipping to the world . You would also have to take PayPal . Sounds good so far ?
I am looking for any of the following in 1/400 .
Dragon Wings China Air 55184 B747 , KAL 55639 A380 , Qantas 56308 B747 , China Air 55989 B747 , Eva Air
55863 A340 and Phoenix B787 ANA .
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From Spain, joined Nov 2001, 2078 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 5667 posts, 
they sell only Herpa´s 
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